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Review
. 2016 Dec;7(6):330-344.
doi: 10.1177/2040620716667275. Epub 2016 Sep 13.

A clinical update on the role of carfilzomib in the treatment of relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma

B Franken  1 , N W C J van de Donk  1 , J C Cloos  2 , S Zweegman  2 , H M Lokhorst  3
Affiliations
Review

A clinical update on the role of carfilzomib in the treatment of relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma

B Franken et al. Ther Adv Hematol. 2016 Dec.

Abstract

Even though the prognosis of patients with multiple myeloma is continuing to improve, all patients eventually develop relapsed refractory disease. Several novel therapeutics have been developed in the last few years including the second-generation proteasome inhibitor carfilzomib which has been approved for patients with relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma in the United States since 2012. Recently data from several phase III studies have become available showing the promising efficacy of carfilzomib in combination with lenalidomide, which led to the renewed approval of carfilzomib in combination with lenalidomide and dexamethasone for relapsed myeloma in 2015. Furthermore carfilzomib showed superiority over bortezomib on both efficacy and toxicity profiles, especially a profoundly lower incidence in polyneuropathy. Carfilzomib has been shown to partially overcome the negative effects of high-risk cytogenetics. Promising combinations of carfilzomib with histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors, pomalidomide and several other novel therapeutics have been presented in early studies. The optimal dosing regimen and sequence of treatment regimens remain important questions for the future.

Keywords: carfilzomib; myeloma; proteasome inhibitor; refractory; relapse.

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Conflict of interest statement

N.vandeD., S.Z. and H.L received compensation as part of the advisory board of AMGEN. B.F. and J.C. have no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Mechanism of proteasome inhibition by carfilzomib (image provided by Amgen).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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